Texas Republicans were quick to condemn President Obama’s violation of the Second Amendment through his unconstitutional executive action on gun control.

The President was quick to claim, “[T]his is not a plot to take away everybody’s guns.”

Obama mentioned the Manchin-Toomey background check that failed in Congress after the shootings at Sandy Hook and wiped tears away as he spoke about the children who were killed there.

The President charged, “The gun lobby may be holding Congress hostage right now but they can’t hold America hostage. We do not have to accept that carnage is the price of freedom.”

“The Bill of Rights was added as a specific safeguard to prevent the federal government from denying Americans those guaranteed rights,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas. “Today, the President trampled the purpose and substance of the Bill of Rights by unilaterally imposing Second Amendment restrictions.”

“After failing to pass gun control measures through Congress, the President is yet again resorting to unilateral executive action in place of the democratic process,” the governor added.

Abbott was quick to warn, “Despite the President’s latest attempt to undermine our liberty, Texas will take every action to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”

Just prior to Obama taking his unconstitutional independent executive actions, Breitbart Texas reported that the Texas Governor responded to Obama’s saying he was intending to impose more gun control by tweeting, “COME AND TAKE IT.” His tweet, which includes the image of the iconic Texas “COME AND TAKE IT” Gonzales flag, has gone viral after his tweet of January 1.

The Gonzales flag is a historic symbol of Texas independence and is frequently carried by gun rights supporters. The flag was originally flown during a battle in Gonzales, Texas, in 1835 during the lead up to the Texas war of independence from Mexico.

Prior to being elected governor, Abbott was the longest serving attorney general in the Lone Star state’s history. In that capacity he sued President Obama 31 times, including leading the way in the fight against the President’s unlawful executive order on amnesty.

“Once more President Obama is pushing his personal and political agenda, attacking the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warned. “I stand ready to fight back against any overreach that will deny or infringe on their rights. If the president is truly concerned about keeping our communities and schools safe, he should share the same sense of urgency in closing security gaps – some of his own making – that have made a mockery of our borders and are inviting potential terrorists to infiltrate and attack our nation from within.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the President’s announcement on more gun control, “political posturing and more propaganda.” Patrick said Obama “is simply out of step with mainstream America and certainly out of step with the majority of Texans.”

“The President may not personally like it, but we have the constitutional right to protect ourselves, our families and our businesses,”the Lt. Governor stated.

As reported by Bretbart Texas, a spokeswoman for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said in anticipation of the President’s executive actions, “President Obama is trying to distract Americans from his failure to address the true threat of radical Islamic terrorism, and instead going after the rights of law-abiding American citizens — it is complete lunacy. If Ted Cruz is elected president, the lawlessness will end on Day One, and Americans’ personal liberties will be restored and protected.”

U.S. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) responded that “the measures announced today threaten our constitutional rights and would not solve the problem.”

The senior senator from Texas added, “An unwillingness to find common ground and achieve compromise has been a hallmark of this president’s tenure, and this issue is unfortunately no different. Rather than unilaterally impose a gun-control agenda that’s unlawful and strips the constitutional rights of elderly Americans, the president should better enforce current law and work with Congress on legislation reforming our mental health system.”

As reported by Breitbart News, the President held a press conference in which he and staff members shed tears as he told Americans that their Second Amendment rights were not in danger. He said, “I taught constitutional law, I know a little about this, I get it.” He said, “I believe in the Second Amendment. It’s there written on the paper.”

“The paper,” the President referred to, is the U.S. Constitution.

As it relates to the document that protects our country’s freedoms and provides for a balance of power, Breitbart News’ Ben Shapiro wrote, “Obama’s knowledge of constitutional law seems to be limited to the theory that the executive branch can act in the absence of legislation. In accordance with the Obama constitution’s ‘F*** you’ clause of Article II, the president can do precisely what he pleases if Congress refuses to act.”

Senator Cornyn has introduced the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act, which he says, “would strengthen the existing background check system without expanding it and improve treatment, preventative screening and crisis response for individuals with mental illness.”

In a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas, Republican Party of Texas Chairman Tom Mechler said, “It is both outrageous and offensive that President Obama continues to act unilaterally on Constitutional matters such as 2nd Amendment rights. He blatantly ignores our Constitution, in which it clearly states, ‘A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.'”

“Texans will continue to support and defend our 2nd Amendment rights and if the President believes his unlawful actions will deter us from continuing to do so, then our message is simple; dont mess with Texas,” the chairman concluded.

Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2